Circuit-closer.



N0 655,4|2. Patented Aug. 7, I900. J. OMEARA.

CIRCUIT CLOSER.

(Application filed May 20, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

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Miran ENT FFICE.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

S PEOIFICATION forming part of Letters ?atent No. 655,412, dated August '7, 1900.

Application filed May 20,1899. Serial No. 717,634. (No model.)

To ctZZ wh01n it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH OMEARA", a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Circuit-Closers, of which the following is a full, clear, and ex act description.

This invention relates to electric circuitclosers, and has for its object to provide a circuit-closer which is thrown into operation upon the occurrence of abnormal or dangerous conditions in the plant or apparatus with which it is associated, and capable of giving an alarm when operated upon such abnormal or dangerous occurrences.

In the application filed May 12, 1899, Serial No. 716,540, I have shown a circuit-closer embodying the principle of this invention, but in a modified construction, and adapted especially for the detection of abnormal heat or cold, and while the present invention is susceptible of use for the same purpose both devices are also capable of more extended use, as is obvious. V p

In the present invention-l employ a stationary holder for an electrically-conductive material, such as mercury or metallic filings or powder, and arrange the same in an electric circuit which includes any suitable alarm or signal-such as electric bells, lights, semaphores,or other audible or visual signals-and complete the circuit by a movable contactcarrier which may be operated by mechanical or other physical or other agencies in order to indicate abnormal conditions or for other purposes, all as I will proceed now more particularly to set forth and finally claim.

In the a'coompanyin g drawings, illustrating my invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of one form of installation, showing the circuit-closer itself in vertical section and set to operate by heat. Fig. 2 is a similar view of another form of installation, showing the circuit-closer set to operate by cold. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the circuit-closer. Fig. l is a top plan View thereof; and Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken in the plane ofline 5 5, Fig. 4.

I will describe first the construction of the circuit-closer itself and then set forth several modes of operation or utilization thereof. A block a of any suitable non-conductive material is adapted to be secured in fixed position, as by means of screws ct, passed through holes (L This block is provided with the vertical cavities b b, and the cavity 1) is provided with a horizontal overflow-hole 0. Electrical conductors d (1 lead from the bottoms of these cavities b b to the binding-posts e c, which may be of any approved construction and which are erected on the top of the block a. The cavities b I) serve as receptacles for any suitable electrically-conductive material ffsuch as mercury, metal filings, or powder, or other material which is not readily affected by atmospheric conditions and by means of the overflow c the level of the said electrically-conductive material f is fixed at a uniform height in the receptacle 2), 1

and because the block Cb receives and contains in use this electrically-conductive material I designate it as the holder for such .electrically-conductive material.

A metallic body g, hereinafter referred to as the contact-carrier, is provided and has at its bottom a cup g, which is adapted to receive an electrically-conductive material h, similar to that in the receptacles b b, and

- from the bottom of this cup depend the contact points or pins M", the former shorter than the latter. The contact 11 is arranged in the receptacle 1), and the contact 1" is arranged in the receptacle 1), and the device as a whole is suspended above the holder by a screw or other adjustable device is, and thus connected with an atmospherically-sensitive support, hereinafter referred to.

The binding-posts are connected by wires Z Z in circuit with a battery or other source of electricity 4% and electromagnetic bells or' other alarm or signal mechanisms at.

In the installation of the apparatus to detect abnormal heat the shorter contact-point o' normally is not in contact with the electrical conductor in the receptacle 1), while the contact 1 may or may not-be in such contact with the electrically-conductive material in the receptacle 7), and it will be observed that these receptacles are not in communication with one another. Upon the occurrence of ICO abnormal or dangerous conditions the contact-point t' is dropped into contact with the electrically-cond uctive material in the receptacle Z), and thus a circuit is established through the electrically-00nductive material in the two receptacles b b, the contact-points it, cup g, the conductors (Z d, binding-posts e 6, wires Z Z, and the instrument or instruments in the circuit.

The apparatus may be arranged to operate by the rising of the devices '9 g and their adjuncts by providing a contact point or member 0, which rises from the binding-post 6 into alinement with the conducting material in the cup 9, so that upon the occurrence of abnormal or dangerous conditions if the said cup is raised so as to immerse the contact device 0 in the conducting material 7L a circuit will be established through the wire Z, post 6, contact 0, conducting material h, contact-point t, conductor cl, post 6, wire Z, and the instrument or instruments in the circuit. In this operation of the device it will be necessary that the contact 77 be nor mally arranged in the conductive materialf and to a sufficient depth to prevent its being removed therefrom upon the rising of the contactcarrier to complete the circuit.

The movable contact-carrier gis suspended from an atmospherically-sensitive support which is capable of being arranged in a taut or a slackened condition, as represented at r, Fig. 1, and s, Fig. 2, respectively. In the drawings I have shown this support as consisting of a wire adjustably arranged upon hooks r r and s s, respectively, which hooks are secured in place at a suitable distance apart. The connection of the wire with these devices 7' r and s s, of whatever character the latter may be, may be such that the wire may be taken up or let out for a purpose presentlyappearing.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the circuit-closer arranged to close the circuit by the dropping of the contact-points t' t", and as one illustration of the utilization of this arrangement I show the suspending device partly run out of the contact-carrier 9, limited fall in order to close the circuit, and this moving portion or contact-carrier is suspended by a wire or other device 19 from the wire, rod, or other device 1", which in this instance is drawn taut, and is sensitive to heat and Will expand under abnormal heat and sag, as indicated in dotted lines, sufficiently to permit the entrance of the shorter contactpoint 2' into the conducting material f to complete the circuit.

XVhen the apparatus is to be installed for the detection of abnormal cold, the wire or other supporting device sis slackened in any suitable manner, as indicated by the full line, Fig. 2, and contracts under abnormal cold, as indicated by the dotted line, Fig. 2, whereby the movable member or contact-carrier of the circuit-closer will be elevated so as to bring the contact member 0 into contact with the conso as to provide for a ducting material in the cup g, and in this installation of the device the suspending device 7:; may be screwed fully home into the body g, thereby to compensate for the slack in the supporting device or wire, and thus retain the contact-carrier in proper relative position to the other parts of the apparatus. sired, the contact-carrier may be electrically insulated from its suspending device.

As already sulllciently indicated, Fig. 1 illustrates the installation of the circuitcloser for use where the circuit is completed through the conductingmaterial in the receptacles Z) Z), and the installation shown in Fig. 2 illustrates an arrangement where the circuit is closed through the conducting mateterial in the receptacle Z) and the conducting material in the cup g.

It will be observed that by a simple adjustment of the supporting device or wire and its connection with the contact-carrier g the apparatus may be set either for the detection of abnormal heat or for the detection of abnormal cold.

Upon restoration of normal conditions the circuit will be broken and the circuitcloser restored to operative position.

My circuit-closer is adapted for use alsoin detecting abnormal height of water or other fluids in tanks by connecting the same with any suitable float therein. It is useful also for detecting abnormal heat or abnormal cold in rooms or objects where it is desired to maintain a practically-uniterm temperature; and it is applicable by obvious mechanical expedients for use in a great variety of situations which call for an alarm or signal at a point distant from the location of the object concerning the condition of which it is de sired to be informed.

I do not limit my invention to the mere details of construction herein shown and described, since any alterations thereof may be made within the principle of my invention in order to adapt it to various conditions.

W hat I claim is- 1. In an apparatus for detecting abnormal temperatures, the combination of an atmos pherically-sensitive wire or support adapted to be slacken ed and ti htened a movable contact-carrier suspended therefrom, stationary contacts arranged in proximity to the contacts of said carrier, and an adjustable connection between said contact-carrier and the sensitive wire or support to compensate for the slackening or tightenin of said wire or support according to the setting of the appa ratus either for the detection of abnormal heat or for the detection of abnormal cold, substantially as described.

2. A circuit-closer, comprising a holder having receptacles for an electrically-conductive material, one of said receptacles having an overflow to maintain a uniform level of elec trically-conductive material therein, a contact-carrierhaving contact-points of different lengths, the shorter being arranged in the re- If deceptacle having the overflow, and means for introducing the said device into an electric circuit, substantially as described.

3. A circuit-closer, comprising a holder for the reception of an electrically-conductive material, a contact-carrier provided with contact-points and a receptacle for an electrically-conductive material, means to introduce the device into an electrical circuit, and an auxiliary contact-point for cooperation with the electrically-conductive material in the carrier-receptacle, substantially as described.

4. A circuit-closer, comprising a holder for an electrically-conductive material, a contact-carrier, binding-posts in circuit with said holder, and a contact-point extending from one of the bindingposts into operative connection with the carrier, the said carrier being movable with relation to the holder and the said contact-point to complete the circuit, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for detecting abnormal temperatures, a holder having receptacles for an electrically-conductive material, bindingposts erected upon said holder, electric conductors connecting the said receptacles with said binding-posts, a movable contact-carrier having contact-points adapted to enter the conductive material in said holder, a stationary contact also erected upon said holder and arranged in the path of the upward movement of said contact-carrier, an atmosphericallysensitive wire or support for said contact-carrier adapted to be slackened or tightened, and an adjustable connection between said contact-carrier and sensitive Wire or support to compensate for the slackening or tightening of said wire, whereby the apparatus may be adjusted for the detection either of abnormal heat or for the detection of abnormal cold, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of May, A. D. 1899.

JEREMIAH OMEARA.

\Vitnesses:

JosEPH P. I-lo'UsToN, J. H. CURRY. 

